2011 Ice Breaker moved to North Dakota; Boston College, Michigan State, Air Force also in field

A change in plans for the 2011 Ice Breaker Tournament has the event moving to Grand Forks, N.D., where North Dakota, Boston College, Michigan State and Air Force will make up the field.

The Oct. 7-8 tournament was originally scheduled for a second straight season in St. Louis, but a conflict with the NHL schedule of the St. Louis Blues prompted the move, said Paul Kelly, executive director of College Hockey Inc.

The Hockey Commissioners Association and the St. Louis Sports Commission mutually agreed to move the tournament to Grand Forks, Kelly said, to avoid a split schedule like in this season’s event, which took place on Friday and Sunday because of a Blues game on Saturday.

The 2012 event is still scheduled for Kansas City, Mo., Kelly said.

The 2011 edition at Ralph Engelstad Arena will the the 15th Ice Breaker.